To turn on dictation on an iPhone 14, open Settings > General > Keyboard and switch on Enable Dictation, then tap Enable Dictation again if asked. After that, tap the microphone button on the keyboard in any text field and start talking. The same steps work on every recent iPhone running current versions of iOS.
How to turn on dictation
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General, then Keyboard.
- Scroll down and turn on Enable Dictation.
- If a prompt appears, tap Enable Dictation to confirm.
On the same screen, you can also choose dictation languages if you use more than one keyboard language, and turn Auto-Punctuation on or off.
How to dictate text
- Open any app with a text field, such as Messages, Notes, or Mail.
- Tap where you want the text to go.
- Tap the microphone icon on the keyboard (bottom right, or in the text field in some apps).
- Speak. Your words appear as you talk, and the keyboard stays open so you can type and dictate at the same time.
- To stop, tap the microphone again, say “Stop dictation,” or stay silent for about 30 seconds.
Useful dictation commands
- Punctuation: iPhone adds commas, periods, and question marks automatically in supported languages. You can also say them, such as “exclamation point.”
- New lines: say “new line” or “new paragraph.”
- Emoji: say the emoji’s name, such as “heart emoji.”
- Spelling: spell out a name, for example “invite Steven S-T-E-P-H-E-N.”
- Edits: say “select” or “delete” followed by the words to change, or “undo” to reverse the last change.
Apple keeps a full list of dictation commands in its iPhone User Guide.
Privacy and internet use
On iPhone 14 and other recent models, dictation is processed on the device in many languages and doesn’t need an internet connection. When you dictate into a search field, the text may be sent to the search engine to run the search. To read Apple’s details, tap About Dictation & Privacy under the dictation settings.
If the microphone button is missing
- Dictation is off: repeat the steps above.
- Screen Time is blocking it: go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps & Features and make sure Siri & Dictation is allowed.
- You’re using a third-party keyboard: switch back to the Apple keyboard by tapping the globe icon. Some third-party keyboards don’t include a dictation button.
- The language isn’t supported: dictation isn’t available in every language or region.
If dictation makes mistakes
- Speak clearly at a normal pace.
- Reduce background noise or use AirPods or a headset microphone.
- Fix a word by tapping it; underlined words show alternatives you can choose.
- Add names and unusual words to your contacts or Text Replacement so the iPhone learns them. See how to add a word to the iPhone dictionary.
How to turn dictation off
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off Enable Dictation. The microphone button disappears from the keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
Is dictation the same as Siri?
No. Dictation only turns speech into text in the field you’re typing in. Siri answers questions and performs tasks. You can use one without the other.
Can I dictate on a computer too?
Yes. See how to dictate in Windows 10 and how to dictate in Word on a Mac.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.